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Author
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Topic: What amp you guys use for the pedal steel?
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David L. Donald
Member From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand
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posted 16 November 2003 01:24 PM
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I have a slightly heretical system.
A TubeFex unit patched into a Hartke 350 W amp with a 2.5 bass cab which has a tweeter.
It has more balls than I ever need.I have played a few classic D-10 push-pulls through a Peavey Nashville and an Evans.
The later was my preference, a very sweet sounding amp. I also played a S-10 PP throught a Fender twin in open air, at a festival and it sounded pretty good like that. I have played Crowbears, The Profesional andmy Pro-II through his system and it sounds sweet. There is a used Transtube sitting under a stack of other amps at my local store, and I am likely to pick that up as a smaller amp that can duplicate my existing sound and still have midi patch changes.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 16 November 2003 at 01:27 PM.] |
Steve Stallings
Member From: Bremond, Tx, pop 876, Home of the fighting Bremond Tigers
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posted 17 November 2003 09:58 AM
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quote:
Question for Steve Stallings: How would you compare the VHT to the ProfexII into the NV 400 and PX300? It may not be fair to compare the 2 channel power amp rig to any single amp. I think most folks would be very pleased with a Profex II into 2 NV 400,s or 1000,s. Certainly you would be getting a great value for your investment with that rig.
I like the Profex II into the PX300 and believe that if I had two of the PX300's it would be great. I have played a Nashville 2000 into a PX300 and it was pretty impressive. I think the biggest difference between the VHT and the Peavey is bottom end. There also is a very pleasing warmth to the sound of the VHT from the tubes. I think the PV sound is very good. I'm not slamming PV at all. I think they are great. I just don't agree that a Nashville 400 or 1000 is the equal of a several thousand dollar system.  |
Mike Brown
Member From: Meridian, Mississippi USA
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posted 17 November 2003 12:22 PM
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Ray, here's a link to my article from the Peavey website;http://www.peavey.com/media/pdf/steelguitar/pre_eqpatch.pdf |
Gino Iorfida
Member From: Oakdale, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 17 November 2003 02:34 PM
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price does not equal performance in all cases. Sometimes one can hear differences in a more expensive system due only to the price.
I'll relay experience I ahve with 6 string guitar, and no doubt it will relate to PSG (which I'm a proud peavey owner there as well!) :
I built amps as a business for a while. They had 'the sound' to them, however, what do I gig with for my 6 string work? a Peavey Transformer. Any difference in tone? yes. was it enough to be heard mixed with oother instruments in a lve setting? no. Likewise, i could take one of my killer amps, and put in not so good tubes, or a different loudspeaker, and the tone wasn't as perfect. What am I saying? I went for years trying differnt rigs etc.. My first amp was a peavey bandit... loved it... moved to a rack setup into a peavey deuce, then tried the 'all tube' route with a Carvin. Hated it.. sold it and got a Classic 30 peavey. Loved it, however, I 'thought' a real marshall and/or real fender would sound better, so I had both. They weighed a ton, and didn't sound all that much different... So I enter a band that I need more versatility thatn the stock amps could deliver, so I added all the stompboxes to get what I want. The sound was there, but I had to riverdance between songs, So I went the modelling amp way (of course wanted a peavey,but got a deal I coulndt refuse on a vox... and didn't like it...) so what am I using now? A peavey transformer 212... point is, over the years, I've played and or owned pretty much every amp out there, and to be honest, anything that sounded even slightly 'better' (they all sounded DIFFERENT), wasn't THAT much better, and could only sound better at certain volumes in certain venues, and with certain guitars etc --had no flexibility. The Peavey's 99.99% of the time smokes the rest, and even when they fall even slightly short of the other rigs, the differences are NOT noticable in a live setting, or even recorded- only noticable when playing solo.
Now for that alone, I look at it this way, why play something more expensive, when I can get the same or better results for less money-- that's just simple economics. Why play something that does not have the reliability that peavey has-- that's just simple common sense... why play something more complicated (i.e. more patch cables etc)-- that's just more to mess up... why play something that may be rare/harder to replace (even financially!)--again common sense...
Hands down, I will probably always be a Peavey user. When you get the best quality sound, reliability, flexibility, repeatablilty/consistance, and replaceablility if something happens (falls out of the back of the truck and gets run over/stolen etc), you are willing to spend whatever it takes to get that, and will, however, when a Peavey offering is on average 2/3-1/2 the price of anything else out there, the choice is simple... I like to PLAY my equipment, not have to play WITH it.[This message was edited by Gino Iorfida on 17 November 2003 at 09:04 PM.] |
Raj Natarajan
Member From: Spring, Texas, USA
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posted 17 November 2003 03:19 PM
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I must say I like NV400 too, although haven't yet compared it to a NV1000. I have been playing with Hiwatt DR-103 tube british amp. I get a completely different sound out of my Shobud LDG through this rig. I have a 2x12 (200 watts) EVs connected to this amp through a TC Electronic's G-Major processor and I like this sound too, but is very different from what I get out of the NV100. I have a THD hotplate, so that I can turn up this amp without loosing my hearing and the sound is even more distinct, but starts to sound more like the rock band PSG than as the classic pedal steel tone. No wonder David Gilmour uses these amps and setup for this very reason. If I should be playing in a rock back, I guess this setup would be ideal but I am still learning the PSG. But it has been fun to play with these toys to see how different sounds one can get. So the point is that the amp and the setup can change for the application as well as meaning what type of music you play with your PSG. I guess for jazz, one can use a different setup to get that jazz tone. I am not sure what type of a setup one would need to create the jazz tone out of a PSG but this could be whole new topic. Certainly for country music PV does quite good indeed I think. |
Jay Ganz
Member From: Out Behind The Barn
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posted 18 November 2003 07:22 AM
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Original '65 Fender twin reverb or Webb amps
with EVM 15L's in 'em.
------------------
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Steve Stallings
Member From: Bremond, Tx, pop 876, Home of the fighting Bremond Tigers
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posted 18 November 2003 12:31 PM
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quote:
The Peavey's 99.99% of the time smokes the rest, and even when they fall even slightly short of the other rigs, the differences are NOT noticable in a live setting
There are obvious tonal differences between different brands of amps. Peavey has made it's reputation by building quality, low to medium cost gear. I like Peavey stuff but strongly disagree with the above statement.
... I and thousands of other musicians hear a difference. How boring it would be if only one flavor of amplification were available. Many such as I, thrive and embrace the different flavors available. Boutique amps such as the VHT are expensive for a reason. They are handmade with absolutely top notch components. True connoiseurs of tonality ( and those simply anal retentive about their sound ) will always be looking for "that sound"... and be willing to pay for it. As an example of a current country musician who is fanatical about his tone, look at Brad Paisley. Brad uses "Matchless" amps, which are gorgeous, high end amps. Peavey makes great stuff but they don't compete in that market. If you can't hear the difference it obviously is not worth your money. I would submit that the vast majority of guitarists outside the insular pedal steel world, would take issue with your statement. |
Uwe Haegg
Member From: Hilleroed, Denmark
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posted 19 November 2003 01:41 AM
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Nashville 1000.
Beats my Fender Twin anytime when it comes
that steel guitar sound.
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Craig A Davidson
Member From: Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin USA
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posted 19 November 2003 03:09 AM
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I use an Evans SE-200 or a 65 Twin depending on the size of the stage and if I have to play guitar also. A couple gigs I do there isn't enough room for two amps.------------------
1985 Emmons push-pull,Evans SE200 |
James Quackenbush
Member From: Pomona, New York, USA
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posted 19 November 2003 07:03 AM
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First let me say that I own a LOT of Peavey gear, and happen to like all of it , or I wouldn't own it ..I also happen to agree with Steve on this one..There is a definite tone difference using a VHT amp like what he is using..This is NOT to slam Peavey...Peavey has made MANY GREAT PRODUCTS over the years that many people have had the privilige of using..Their dedication, and service, is 2nd to none, and they have wonderfull people like Mike Brown working for them..That being said, tone is very subjective...Peavey amps fit into a the budget of just about every musician out there from the person just starting out, or the Pro .. The price point for what you get is tremendous on some Peavey products..All the pedal steel amps that Peavey has made over the years are great amps ...To say that they are better amps or better sounding amps than some of the more expesive gear out there like Webb or VHT or some of the higher end gear is just NOT accurate !... If I put an ad in the buy and sell that said " Will trade Webb 6-14E for Nashville 1000" "Person who trades must keep the Webb and not sell it " ....How many responces do you think I would get ??...If I reversed the same ad and put " Will trade Nashville 1000 for Webb 6-14E amp" "Person who trades can NOT sell the Nashville 1000 " ..How many people would respond ??.... This is NOT to say that ALL more expensive amps sound better than a Peavey ... Some don't ..But some amps do clearly sound better than Peavey, and are built better than Peavey...Does that mean I'm gonna rush out to buy them ? ...For all intents and purposes my Peavey gear fills a niche that no other gear can fill ..It's price/performance ratio is tops ...Peavey puts gear into the hands of anybody who wants to play music, at a price they can afford and THAT'S what it's all about isn't it ?? |
Ken Byng
Member From: Southampton, England
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posted 19 November 2003 09:56 AM
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"Brad uses "Matchless" amps, which are gorgeous, high end amps".I thought that Brad uses Dr. Z amps. KB |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 19 November 2003 10:10 AM
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No comparison Webb to Peavey. Webb wins. |
Uwe Haegg
Member From: Hilleroed, Denmark
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posted 20 November 2003 02:09 AM
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What, in your opinion, makes the Webb amp better than a Peavey?
Is i better built? Is the sound different?
Or is it just another flavour?
Anyone care to elaborate? |
Jay Ganz
Member From: Out Behind The Barn
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posted 20 November 2003 07:31 AM
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Yes....Yes....and Yes. |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 20 November 2003 07:37 AM
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Uwe, wider dynamic range. JBL speaker. I do think the Nashville 1000 is a decent amp though. Just not in the Webb's class. |
kyle reid
Member From: Butte,Mt.usa
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posted 20 November 2003 08:51 AM
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Ive owned them all & Webb is the best!Can you Imagine what these will be worth when Jimmy Webb cant build any more? |
Steve Stallings
Member From: Bremond, Tx, pop 876, Home of the fighting Bremond Tigers
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posted 20 November 2003 10:02 AM
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quote:
"I thought that Brad uses Dr. Z amps"
er.... yep. I got my high end amps confused 
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Glenn Suchan
Member From: Austin, Texas
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posted 21 November 2003 05:58 AM
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I recently saw a music video with Brad. It looked like he was playing through a red Dr. Z.Incidently, Matchless amps are no longer being made, but the Dr. Z's are "modeled" after them. Most Matchless amps are going for $2K and up. In the Kevin Fowler band, Kevin plays a Tom Anderson "tele" through Matchless amp and Keith, our lead guitarist, playes a vintage Fender tele with a Bigsby tailpiece through a Dr. Z. The tone is real close. The difference is probably due to the pickers and their guitars. BTW, I play my Emmons S12 through an Evans SE-200. Keep on pickin'!
Glenn
www.kevinfowler.com |
Glenn Suchan
Member From: Austin, Texas
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posted 21 November 2003 06:05 AM
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Sorry ya'll. I double posted. Guess I'll always be a "low-tech, redneck'"  Keep on pickin'!
Glenn
www.kevinfowler.com [This message was edited by Glenn Suchan on 21 November 2003 at 10:13 AM.] |
Jay Ganz
Member From: Out Behind The Barn
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posted 21 November 2003 07:17 AM
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The maker and designer of the original
Matchless amps (Mark Sampson) has been making "Bad Cat" amps for the last couple years. |
Daniel Vorp
Member From: Sarver, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 21 November 2003 10:02 AM
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I use a Webb 614E for the big rooms and a Peavey 112 for the small rooms. |
Tom Diemer
Member From: Defiance, Ohio USA
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posted 21 November 2003 09:22 PM
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I'd like to add something here, if I may:I have a Peavey NV400, LA400, Peavey Ultra 4-10 tube amp, and a Stereo Chorus 400. The Stereo Chorus 400 blows the rest away for tone.. Really surprised I don't hear more people mention them when talking about steel amps. The Ultra 4-10 isn't bad either, if you like that warm tube sound, very Fender Twin'ish clean tone. Heavy though, and hard on tubes. Off topic a little, but I also have a PODxt I use direct to a PA or, through an amp. That thing is awesome. [This message was edited by Tom Diemer on 21 November 2003 at 09:23 PM.] |
Steven Black
Member From: Gahanna, Ohio, USA
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posted 27 November 2003 05:52 AM
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I use a Randall RG300 which I like quite well
and have been using for years, it is all solid state mosfet, with spring reverb two channel, 15" EV, heavy amp but has the punch when you need it and is clean as well. a friend that I know who builds amps may try to re-clone this amp. Steveb carter 8+5. |
Gary Preston
Member From: Columbus, Ohio, USA
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posted 30 November 2003 01:34 PM
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It's the same old story . My amp sounds better than yours !! I use (2) nashville 400 amps and i like the sound with my Lexicon processor . The reverb stinks by it's self but other than that they do quite well. I have friends that have the Walker Stereo Steel systems and they like them very much. I have heard the Webb and Evans amps also and i have found that everyone uses their choice of ''Effects'' with them.
So i conclude that you will have to set all of them side by side ( if thats possable ) with no'' Effects ''and then make up your mind. Do you still love me ?? Regards ,,,Gary.
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John Bechtel
Member From: Nashville, Tennessee,U.S.A.
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posted 30 November 2003 09:39 PM
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For several years I used two NV1000's. The best tone I believe I ever had was more recently, when I used just one NV1000 and only an Analog-Delay Stomp-box. Then I switched to a Peavey Classic 50/212, looking for the good ole tube sound again, and this suits my fine with the Analog-Delay. I prefer good tone over power to blow the roof off te building. If I need more coverage, I'll use my Peavey EDI, into the board! ------------------
“Big John” Bechtel
http://community.webtv.net/KeoniNui/BigJohnBechtels
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Mike Brown
Member From: Meridian, Mississippi USA
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posted 01 December 2003 03:33 PM
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Raj, when you post an open ended question such as, "which amp sounds better?", you will get 1000 different answers. I work at Peavey and have since 1976, so I speak from first-hand accounts as to how our products are built. Good tone is subjective, otherwise you would get one answer. "Boutique" amplifiers usually cost more because the proprietor doesn't have access to quantity parts pricing and the labor costs involved are high due to the many hours involved in building one amp at a time. Unless the proprietor of the boutique business is efficient in designing,purchasing components at reasonable prices, manufacturing, marketing, day to day sales, servicing the products that he sells, providing the necessary "after the sale" services for many years to come. What happens to these boutique amps after the company that built them are no longer around? There are very few players that will tell you that the existing Fender amps are "as good as the older ones". But, none of my friends actually "own" a new Fender, they all own old ones. But, as technology advances, the manufacturing methods have to advance too. This is not to say that the older products weren't good, but the latest products(not all products) are just as good. One of the main reasons why you see so many Peavey steel amps is because we "stick with it" while other companies choose to drop the manufacturing of steel amplifiers altogether because they can't do it efficiently, or they can't make money at it. With almost 30 years at designing and manufacturing steel guitar amps under our belt, I feel that we are far ahead of our competitors in this field. You can count on my participation on the Forum, whereas you won't see other representatives of other steel amp companies on this Forum. I can be reached toll free in North America at 1-877-732-8391 and will be glad to discuss this subject with you. I welcome your call. Mike Brown
Peavey Electronics Corporation [This message was edited by Mike Brown on 04 December 2003 at 07:40 AM.] |
Tom Vollmer
Member From: Hamburg, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 01 December 2003 07:58 PM
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I have never seen an ad in steel guitar literature offering to make a Webb amp or an Evans amp sound better by an after market change.IMHI no combination sounds better than an Emmons PP thru a Webb or Evans.TV |
Billy Wilson
Member From: El Cerrito, California, USA
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posted 01 December 2003 11:06 PM
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Marshall PA head with JBL 15 in. E-145. Alot to carry around but I'm hooked on the sound |
Billy Wilson
Member From: El Cerrito, California, USA
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posted 01 December 2003 11:13 PM
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Marshall PA head. 100 watts. JBL 15 inch E-145 This is alot to carry around but I'm love the sound. Bill W |
Billy Wilson
Member From: El Cerrito, California, USA
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posted 01 December 2003 11:14 PM
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Marshall PA head. 100 watts. JBL 15 inch E-145 This is alot to carry around but I'm love the sound. Bill W |
Raj Natarajan
Member From: Spring, Texas, USA
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posted 02 December 2003 07:53 AM
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Thanks a lot Mike Brown. Yes, it truely great to have you here to answer any questions about the PV Steel amps. I agree with a lot of what you've said. I guess the volume is quite low in the amp manufacturing business I can easily say that it would be quite hard to consistently make the same quality amps (this is so true for tube amp manufacturers in particular) all through the period. Unless one establishes the name like Marshall or Fender, they could be running into this. I didn't realize that it is such an open ended question when I posted this, but the outcome has been quite helpful. Since I am new to PSG myself, I didn't have any clue about the choice of amps for the steel. But I know a few more brands other than PV, like Webb, Evans, etc. I am quite happy with NV400 but some day, I hope to get my hands on the few other amps at least just to try them out. Thank you all of you for sharing your thoughts on this. I guess I would be bit more careful in the future as to what type of question I ask... Cheers, |
David Decker
Member From: Canton, Ohio, USA
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posted 02 December 2003 08:15 AM
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Evans FET 500 LV the sound for me. I've had three Webbs and they are great. The last one I had I didn't like, traded it for another 500 FET. I also have a Session 500 that I like, but I won't carry it around anymore. |
Mike Brown
Member From: Meridian, Mississippi USA
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posted 02 December 2003 09:56 AM
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In the competitive amplifer business, it helps to have other brands to compare to. If you perform every night, you may be able to afford an expensive "boutique" amplifier, but it doesn't increase your pay. If you choose a good sounding and dependable product like a Nashville 1000 or 112(or any of the past Peavey models), you get a dependable amp that produces good tone and you are not paying for it for many years to come. It pays for itself. |
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